Irish Continental Group which owns Irish Ferries, has reported a surge in revenues and profits for the six month to the end of June as it saw a gradual return towards pre-Covid travel patterns after the disruption of the last two years.
ICG said its revenues for the first half of 2022 jumped by 85.8% to €263.1m from €141.6m the same time last year.
It also reported a profit before tax of €15.4m compared to a loss before tax of €12.2m in the first half of 2021.
ICG said it carried 214,200 cars on its ferries in the first six months of the year - an increase of 618.8% on the same time last year.
Total passenger carryings came to 894,400, an increase of 573.5% on 2021, which it said reflected a gradual return to normal travel patterns compared to a full six-month period of travel restrictions the same time last year in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The increase also reflects the impact of six full months of trading on the Dover-Calais route, which started on June 29, 2021, it added.
RTE News reports more here on the group's half-year results.